F 234 
.F8 F6 
Copy 1 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 
1608-1861 



BY 



MRS. VIVIAN MINOR FLEMING 




Published for the benefit of the 
Fredericksburg Library Association 









1921 

W. C. HILL PRINTING COMPANTf 

RICHMOND, VA. 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 
1608-1861 



BY 



MRS. VIVIAN MINOR FLEMING 




Published for the benefit of the 
Fredericksburg Library Association 



1921 

W. C. HILL PRINTING COMPANY 

RICHMOND, VA. 



3^- 



>rs 






FOREWORD 



For some years the Fredericksburg Branch of the Association for the 
Preservation of Virginia Antiquities has, through its historians, Miss 
Annie Braxton and myself, been searching for Fredericksburg's begin- 
nings. 

Through the help of Mr. Clayton Torrance we located tlie settlement 
(described by Col. Wm. Byrd on his visit in 1732), the wharf, the ware- 
houses, Mrs. Livingstone's cofi'ec-liousc, etc., on Sophia street, between 
Prince William and Amelia. This was called "The Leaseland," and the 
question was, "When was the land granted or leased." Some months ago 
Judge A. T. Embrey, who is so well informed and accurate in all these 
matters, gave me the paper which fixed the original date as May 2, 1671. 
Thus Fredericksburg began. 

I gave this information to the A. P. V. A. and my husband, INIr. V. M. 
Fleming, gave it to the Chamber of Commerce the first week in March, 
1921. Mr. W. L. Brannan, President of the Chamber of Commerce, with 
his usual fine enthusiasm, at once grasped the possibilities of the situation, 
and thus began Fredericksburg's 250th anniversary, celebrated on May 
25, 1921. 

These papers were prompted by Mrs. Alice Coghill, who desired this 
information put in popular form, so that the pageant, which she so won- 
derfully developed, might be understood by all. Since the celebration 
there have been many requests that they be preserved in more permanent 
form, and hence this pamphlet. 

October 30, 1921. Mrs. Vivian Minor Fleming, 

Fredericksburg, Va. 



AN ABBREVIATED COPY OF THE LEASELAND GRANT. 



To all &C.J Now know yce that I the said Sr. William Berkeley, Knt. 
Gover. &c., Give and grant unto Mr. John Buckner, and Mr. Thomas 
Royston a tract of land lying in the County of Rappa. on the south side 
of the river in the freslies, contayn'mg two thousand acres, Begining at 
marked f'oure branch pine the uppmost corner tree of devident of land 
surveyed for Mr. Laurence Smith and bounding on the same S. W. by S. 
2 degrees & I/2 W. 1000 pole, thence N. W. 320 poles, & thence N. E. by 
Norley 2 degrees 1^ E 1000 pole to the river, and finally by the river side 
according to its several courses to the first mentioned station, the said 
land being due by and for the transpor. of forty psons. into this Colony 
&c. To have and to hold &c.. To be held &c.. Yielding and paying &c., 
provided &c., Dated the 2nd day of ]\Iay, 1671. 



Jno. Busby. Wm. Gradwick 

Geo. Young. Geo. Brooke. 

Geo. Barker. Hen. Casell 

Mai-y Parker. John Hanppnard 

Robt. Beecham Ja. Barkhust. 

Fran. Hardacre Hen. Yowell ,^ <^ ,. i t t- ii„„ 

TT 1 rp, , Marv Greeford Jno. Ivelley 

Humpliry 1 homas ^ "^ 

Wm. Greene 



Tho. Cheyney 
Robt. Edwards. 
Blanch Harding 
Xper Edes 



Jno. Jones 
Mary Tompson 
Jno. Wery 
Wm. Wriffht. 



Arabella Singleton Robt. Rate. 



Jno. Davis 
Dorcas Young 
Daniel Grouch 
Eliz. Sharps 



Jno. Hunt. 
Peter Colens 



Ann Townsend 

Jno. Flesswell 

Nuscuff Scillv 



Jno. Farrell 
Robt. Thurston. 
Robt. Hall. 



SEAL OF 
VIRGINIA 
LAND OFFICE 

Land Office, Richmond, J^a. 

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy from the records of 
this office. 

Witness my hand and seal of office, this 1st day of July. 1913. 

Jno. W. Richardson, 

Register of the Land Office. 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

FRAGMENT OF TOMBSTONE BEARING THE OLDEST 
ENGLISH INSCRIPTION IN AMERICA. 



This frag-mcnt is from tlie tombstone of Edmond Helder, found near 
Potomac Run, Stafford Count}-. V^irginia. The original inscription read 
as follows: 

Here lies intercd the body of Edmond Helder prectitioner in physick 
and chyrurgery, born in Bedfordshire. Obiit March 11, 1618. Atatis sua 76. 

Exact copy of lettering is as follows : 

^E'RB'' L. /ELS IV\i- E '^^X> 
TidE 'BoJ>^ OF EX>^yiD^X> 

-m y S IC/{'anZ> CH y^ U-RGrB 
l^y ZBoHh/ iv\ ZB^^Fol^J)B 

sa i~R E oi3 I IT m z^"!^ cH // 

This inscription was preserved by ^Ir. C. J. Brown, who was a soldier 
in the Gth New Hampsliirc Volunteers, and was on guard duty near 
Potomac creek, August, 1862. While oft" duty and wandering about the 
country, he came across the old tombstone — then unbroken — and made an 
exact copy of the inscription. In 1881 Dr. Moncure D. Conway, who 
had become interested in tracing a legend that one of Shakespeare's pall- 
bearers was buried near Fredericksburg, found the fraginents of the 
Helder stone, buried beneath the debris of a burned kitchen. The action 
of the fire had obliterated all of the lettering except what can be traced 
on this fragment — the H E and the beginning of the R of the opening 
word, H E R E, in the epitaph — but the place where the stone was found, 
the testimony of the neighbors who remembered the original inscription. 
IVfr. Brown's description of the position of the stone and his careful copy 
of the epitaph, all combine to make it certain that this is actually a frag- 
ment of the tombstone of Edmond Helder, erected only eleven years after 
the landing at Jamestown, two years before the INIayflower touched Ply- 
mouth Rock, and bearing the oldest English epitaph in the New World. 

(For further information concerning this stone and its finding, see 
article entitled "Hiniting a ^lythical Pall-Bearer," by ^Moncure D. Con- 
way, published in Harper's ^Magazine. January. 18S6.") 

Tliis fragment of tombstone is in the Mary Washington House. The 
fact that Dr. Hdder was buried near Potomac Run in 1618 shows that 
this part of Virginia was settled then. The massacre of Opecancanough 
in 1622 wiped out all of these earlier settlements. 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 
1608-1861 



HISTORIC PERIOD No. 1. 
Captain John Smith and the Indians. 

Captain John Smith sailed up tlie Rappahannock river as far as the 
falls in 1608^ beginning his voyage July 24th. Tliree of his companions^ 
Anthony Bagnall, Powell and Todkiil, give a good account of this trip 
and there are maps showing the location of the various Indian tribes. As 
the river narrowed in the ascent they were assailed from both sides by 
showers of arrows. They disembarked near the foot of the falls, where 
there was no forest nor undergrowth to conceal their enemies, examined 
the stones, etc., looking for minerals. They were attacked, and in defend- 
ing themselves an Indian was wounded and left for dead. They took him 
on board their boat, bound up his wounds and fed him. Mosco, a friendly 
Indian, M^ho was their guide, wanted to kill him, but John Smith saved 
his life. 

Through the mediation of tliis prisoner, tlie next day following, they 
opened negotiations witli tlie Indians on the shore and peace was made. 
Several hundred Indians entered into friendl}^ relations v/itli Capt. John 
Smith and his party and furnished them with corn and abundant provisions. 

Capt. Quinn gives a full account of all this in his "History of Freder- 
icksburg," but when the National Geographic Society met here in May, 
1895, one of their speakers told us that the "pow wow" was held on the 
Wasliingion Farm and tlie "Pipe of Peace" was smoked. They probably 
had sources of information which are not available for us. 

One of their party, Richard Featherstone, died on this trip and was 
buried near the rapids. Thus was Fredericksburg first consecrated with 
the life of a white man. 



HISTORICAL PERIOD No. 2.— 1G71. 
Major Lawrence Smith and the Early Settlers. 

There is a tradition that there has been continuous white settlements 
in this locality since 1622. After the massacre of Opecancanough appeal 
was made to Jamestown for "Protection for all the section between the 
James and the Potomac." The gravestone of Edmund Helder, found 
near Potomac Run. Stafford county, dated 1618, eleven years after James- 
town was settled, shows that one plantation, at least, was settled. 

Then there is Major Lawrence Smith. He took land up as early as 1665, 
before John Buckner and James Royster, because their boundaries began 



8 Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

wliere Iiis ended. Judge Francis T. Brooke, in his narrative, says that he 
was born at Smithfield. four miles below Frederieksburg. in 1763, and lie 
believes the place was named in honor of "Captain Lawrence Smith." 

Now, wlio was Lawrence Smilh.^ Jn Miss Dubellet's "Prominent Vir- 
ginia Families" we find the following: Lawrence Smith, of York, and 
John Smith, of Gloucester, were contempoi-aries, probably brothers, as we 
have a record of a deed of land in Gloucester from Lawrence Smith to 
"my brother, John Smith," in l()(i(). John Smith was the ancestor of the 
Smiths, of Shooter's Hill. He and Lawrence Washington married sisters, 
daughters of Augustine Warner, hence the name Augustine in both fami- 
lies. Augustine Smith, probabl}' a nephew of Major Lawrence Smith, 
was prominent in this locality early in 1700. However, to return. Major 
Lawrence Smith, of York, was a surveyor and engineer and was prominent 
and influential in the period immediately jireceding the Bacon rebellion. 
He was. at a Grand Assembly at Jamestown, empowered to build a fort, 
with 200 soldiers, near the falls of the Raiipahannock. Miss Dubellet says, 
in 1674. The fort was not constructed until 1679 and it is a mooted ques- 
tion whether it was built on the north or south side of the Rappahannock, 
but Major Smith probably built it where he could best guard his own 
estate. In 1686 Major Smith was surveyor of the counties of York and 
Gloucester. In 1691 he laid out the city of Yorktown. He died in 1700. 
His granddaughter, Lucy Smith, married Augustine Moore, a grandson, 
I believe, of Gov. Spottswood, and it was at their home. Temple Farm, 
that the articles of surrender of Lord Cornwallis were signed. 

Now, John Buekner, Thomas Royster and the other early settlers. 
What of them? John Buekner, the immigrant, was the first man to use a 
printing press in Virginia. On February 21, 1682-83 he was called before 
Lord Culpeper and the Council for not getting his ^lajesty's license, and 
in H)90 Lord Lloward granted instructions that "Henceforth no person 
be permitted to use a printing press in Virginia." John Buckner's sons 
owned land in both Stafford and Spottsylvania, so this John Buekner is 
probably the Buekner of the Leaseland. 

Thomas Royster we have not been able to find. Among the names of 
the early settlers are several still known in (his section and all are found 
in the early records of the county. \ 

Phillip Buekner took up land ai\ the south side of the Rappahannock 
river in this section in 1672. 



HISTORIC PERIOD Xo. 3.— 1711-1716. 

Governor Spottswood — Germanna — Tiie Iron Works — 
Knights of (he Golden Horseshoe. 

l^rom the building of the fort and the settling of the two hundred 
soldiers and their families in 1681 uj) to the coming of Governor Sjiotts- 
wood there is no information availalile to us. 

Governor Spottswood is a most interesting p«rsonage. He came to 
Virginia in 1710 and brouglit with liim the Writ of Habeus Corpus, so 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 9 

greatly desired by the eolonists. He was one of the most energetie, 
patriotic and far-seeing statesmen that ever ruled Virginia. He had a 
distinguished ancestry and had fought with Marlborough. He established 
a school for Christianizing the Indians and donated one thousand jDounds 
to a college for that purpose. Governor Spottswood first established post- 
offices in Virginia and was afterwards Deputy Postmaster-General of the 
Colonies. 

Of the settlement of Germanna, Governor Spottswood writes: "I have 
placed there near the Rapidan a number of Protestant Germans, built 
them a fort, furnished it with two pieces of cannon and some ammunition, 
which will awe the straggling parties of Northern Indians and be a good 
barrier to all that part of the country." These Germans were from Musen, 
where they had been iron-workers, invited over by De Graffenried. They 
landed at Tappahannock. James Weaver, grand-son of the emigrant, 
writes: "Thev packed their provisions from Fredericksburg on their 
heads all the first year of their occupancy," showing that Fredericksburg, 
at that time the Leaseland, was the trading point for that part of the 
country. They worked the iron mines with some success, and Governor 
Spottswood was deeply interested in pushing this, the first iron industry 
of the Colonies. This gave him the name of the "Tubal Cain of America." 

Judge Brooke says in his narrative that Governor Spottswood made 
five thousand pounds a year with his iron works. 

When Governor Spottswood retired from Williamsburg he came to 
Germanna and built himself a castle, where Col. Byrd visited him in 
1732. He died in Yorktown and is buried at the Temple Farm. He was 
one of the ancestors of Gen. Lee. From his wife (Butler Brayne), 
through her second marriage, with the Rev. John Thompson, are de- 
scended some of the oldest families of Fredericksburg. 

The episode of the "Knights of the Golden Horseshoe," as well as the 
iron mines of Germanna, shows Governor Spottswood as a man of vision. 

In 1716, accompanied by John Fontaine (whose complete diary is in 
Captain Quinn's History of Fredericksburg). Robert Beverley, the his- 
torian, Col. Robertson. Dr. Robinson. Taylor, Todd, l^fason, Austin 
Smith, Captain Clowder and Brooke, the ancestor of Judge Francis T. 
Brooke and Governor Brooke, four Indians and two small companies of 
rangers — about fifty in all. They had witli them provisions, large numbers 
of riding and pack horses and an abundant supply of liquors, Virginia 
red wine, white wine. Irish Usequebaugh, two sorts of rum. Champagne, 
cherry, punch, cider, etc. They, with Governor Spottswood. started from 
Williamsburg on August 20, 1716, stopped at Austin Smith's in Fred- 
erickburg and dined on the 24th, and left Germanna on the 25th. They 
drank his INIajesty's health on the summit of the Blue Ridge, went on to 
the Shenandoah, which they called the Euphrates, and got back to Ger- 
manna on the 1 5th of September. 

For the expedition a multitude of horse shoes liad to be provided, 
which were not needed in the low country around Williamsburg, upon 
which account the Governor, on their return, presented each of his com- 
panions with a golden horseshoe set in jewels, with the inscription "Sic 
Juvat Transcendere Monies." 



10 Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

rilSTORIC PERIOD No. i. 
Spotsylvania County— Stafford— Chatham— Falmouth. 

In IG'Si the House of Burgesses divided the eolony of Virginia into 

eight shires. All this part of Virginia was called Rappahannoek on both 

sides of the river. 

In 1692 this shire was divided and lost its name. All on the north 

side of the river was Richmond county and on the south side was Essex. 

The Leaseland was in Essex county until 1720, when a new county 

was formed — called Spottsylvania, after Governor Spottswood. 

St. George's parish was erected about this same time, and the church 

building and glebe were not i'ar from Germanna, on a hill west of jNIine 

Run. 

Stafford county history I am not familiar with. The nephew of Sir 

Walter Releigh, Raleigh Travers, I believe was his name, had a grant of 

land in Stafford very eax'ly, and part of it is still owned by his descendants 

or connections. 

We all know that Falmouth was laid out in streets and squares in 

1720, before Fredericksburg. Its storj^ will follow written by one familiar 

with its history. 

From a brick j^icked up near the Chatham chimney, stamped 1721. we 

get approximately the date of that old colonial mansion, which is such a 

fine example of our early architecture and was built by one of the Fitz- 

hughs. The original colonist by this name was William Fitzhugh, of 

Westmoreland. He came over in 1670. He was an eminent and success^ 

ful lawj^er and published a book in England on Virginia law. In all 

things he seemed to liave acted with honor and principle. In one of his 

letters (there is a volume of them in the Histoi-ical Society rooms in 

Richmond) he speaks of being "neither in want nor abundance." But he 

had the opportunity of acquiring large tracts of land at a low price and 

left large estates to each of his sons. He was a man of liberality and 

deep religious convictions. His will is probated in Stafford county. 1701. 

If Chatham was built as early as t'le brick intlicates it must have been 

built by William No. 2, whose son, Henry, born in 1706, was the father 

of \\'illiam Fitzhugh, whose large hospitality, rare wines, race course, etc.. 

made Chatham famous. He named tlic place after his friend, the Earl of 

Chatham. 

1720— Falmouth. 

The old town of Falmouth, situated at the mouth of the Falls of the 
Rappaliannock, in Stafford county, Virginia, was first built on fifty acres 
of land, purchased of jMajor William Todd in 1720, and regularly laid off 
in streets, squares and lots. Its government was vested in seven trustees 
appointed by tlie House of Burgesses of Virginia. The original trustees, 
as given by the old town record-book, were Robert Carter. President ; 
Nicholas Smith. .John Fitzlnigh, Charles Carter, Henry Fitzhugh. John 
Warner, surveyor; and William Thornton. 

In 1773, by an amendment of its charter, these trustees were made 
elective by the qualified voters of the town and their president empowered 
to act as mayor. 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg; 11 



to 



At the head of navigation of the llappahannock river its situation made 
it formerly the market of all that seetion of the eountry lying above it 
between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Tidewater, which supplied it with 
grain for a great milling business antl for export trade, for in those days 
Falmouth had a regular trade with foreign countries, a thing impossible 
for a great many years on account of the filling up of the river to an 
extent, rendering it no longer navigable to sea-going vessels. 

Wagon trains, miles in lengih, loaded with grain, were frequently seen 
approaching it from the mountains, merchant ships anchored at its wharf 
to purchase flour and other products and sea captains and sailors moved 
constantly through its streets. Its storage capacity was not equal to its 
trade and hogsheads of sugar and molasses lined its streets and the road 
to Gordon's store, near liie wharf. Basil Gordon, its owner, was the first 
millionaire in the United States. He built for his home the large brick 
house nearest the bridge, the tradition being that the bricks, brass locks, 
etc., were brought from England in his returning ships. 

It was also prominent in military matters. The Falmouth Blues were 
led in the famous charge upon the redoubt at Yorktown by their brave 
commander, Captain William Payne. He was a citizen of P'almouth and 
raised the company referred to for the Revolution. He was given 3,000 
acres by Virginia for his service during the war. 

Above the town stood the residence of Col. Robert Carter, one of the 
first members of its municipal commission; below it the home of Augustine 
Washington, president of the Principia Iron Mines of Stafford — the home 
of the boy whose greatness had not yet flowered. 

George Washington was born in W^estmoreland, but reared in the 
present county of Stafford, and received at school in Falmouth intellectual 
training which prepared him for his future career as liberator of his 
country. In a sketch of family history, written by Washington himself, 
the oniy mention made of scholastic advantages is that he attended school 
there, and it has been well said that no other municipality, ancient or 
modem, has the distinction of having begun the education of the father 
of so magnificent a Republic. In this connection will say when Gen. 
Washington made his celebrated march from Long Island to Yorktown his 
troops came by the old stage road through Falmouth to Fredericksburg, 
thence to Yorktown. 

Hon. Alexander H. Seddon, Secretary of War of our Confederacy, 
was one of its citizens, and it furnished distinguished officers and brave 
soldiers to the Lost Cause. Among the officers. Col. William Green, of 
the 47th Virginia Regiment, who was killed while marshalling his forces, 
not far distant from where his grandfather. Captain William Payne (above 
mentioned), led his nearly a century before. Capt. Jack Forbes and Ser- 
geant George Kelly also gave their lives as a tribute to the Confederacy. 
The grandmother of the Duchess of Malborough was born in Falmouth 
in the house afterwards occupied by Dr. Rose. She was a relative of the 
"Fall Hill" Thorntons and the Forbes. 

The old Dunbar house, completely effaced by fire about twenty-five 
years ago, was famous for its beautiful grounds and frontal garden and 
conservatory, woodwork and exquisite furniture. The last owner, of the 



12 Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

name Miss Anna Dunbar, a great-granddaughter of Lady Spottswood, 
died there in extreme old age and it passed to others. 

"Belmont/' on the edge of the town^ now owned by the celebrated 
artist, Gari Melchers, was built for Susannah Knox^ nee Fitzhugh, by 
her father^ Fitzhugli, of Chatham. Her tomb is still in Falmouth eemei- 
tery. Between this and the present brick church there Avas once an old 
colonial church, long since moldered to decay. It was of wood; Luilt in 
the form of a cross, and above the Carter pew the family coat of arms was 
blazoned. It was destroyed by fire or time's ravages more than a hundred 
years ago. In this same cemetery is buried one of the officers of Isapoleon, 
a French nobleman. Count Herard. who fought tiirough all the Napoleonic 
wars, and was exiled by Louis XVI 11, as recorded on his tombstone. He 
and Lafayette embraced and kissed each other when thc}^ met on the 
occasion of Lafayette's visit here in 1824. Another old grave is that of 
Jean de Baptist, merchant. At that time Falmouth was a busy mart of 
commerce and strangers from many nations drifted into it. 

An aged lady of this city, who died about forty years ago, said she 
went to a large ball when she was fifteen years old at the old Falmouth 
tavern or inn, given in celebration of some important occasion, probably 
the victory and peace of 1816, as the dates would correspond. Being 
her first ball she was particularly impressed by the beauty of the costumes 
worn by tlie ladies. She was Mrs. K. H. Carmichael. 

Besides the extensive milling operations of wheat and corn another 
important industry of Falmouth of former times was the manufacture of 
cotton goods. A large brick cotton factory was built and owned by Duff 
Green. 

Moncure D. Conway, the eminent author, was a Falmouth man and 
this able and reliable antiquarian in Magazine of American History, Vol. 
27, No. 3, page 18G, says tliat tlie fort on the Ra2)pahannock river was 
on the north side of the river and that Falmoutli was the center of the 
military district commanded by Major Lawrence Smith. He was em- 
powered to execute "martial discipline among the soldiers so put in arms," 
both in times of war and peace, and with "two others of said privileged 
place," he was to hear and determine all cases, civil or criminal, that 
should arise in said limits, as a county court miglit do. and to make 
by-laws for the same. 

The historic lustre of P'almouth and its business importance belong 
to the past, but doubtless a few years in future it will be incorporated in 
a Greater Fredericksburg, even as Manchester has been absorbed by Rich- 
mond, for this city is slowly but surely building out to meet it. 

!Mus. Margaret L. Smith. 



HISTORIC PERIOD No. 5. 
Fredericksburg Founded 1727— Col. Henry Willis— Col. Byrd's Visit- 
Thorntons, of Fall Hill. 
Fifty-six years after the grant of 1671 the city of Fredericksburg was 
incorporated and named for Frederick. Prince of Wales, son of George II, 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 13 

and its streets named for members of the royal family. In the meantime^ 
John Euekner and Thomas Royston had died and the title of the Lease- 
lands were vested in their descendants or kinsmen, Robert Euekner and 
John Royston. 

Settlers were coming in rapidly, but the act of the House of Burgesses 
1727 speaks for itself: "Whereas, great numbers of people have of late 
seated themselves and their families upon and near the Falls, and great 
quantities of tobacco and other commodities are every year brought down 
to the ujDper landings to be transported to other parts of the country," 
"So we, the inhabitants of the county of Sj^ottsylvania have made humble 
application to the General Assembly that a town may be laid out in some 
convenient place near tlie falls of said river." 

In the meanwhile Col. Henry Willis had moved to tliis section and 
established himself on Willis Hill, now Marye's Heights. Col. Willis 
deserves a paper to himself, for he was a most interesting character. His 
ancestors were from Oxford, England, learned gentlemen of wealth and 
distinction. Francis Willis was the first who came to Virginia and he 
held various honored positions in the colony and died in England in 1691. 
He left the bulk of his large landed estates in Gloucester county to his 
nephew, Francis Willis (having no children of his own), who was tlie 
father of our Henry Willis, of Fredericksburg, also of Col. Francis Wil- 
lis, of Gloucester. Henry Willis was born in 1691 and died on Sep- 
tember 14, 1740. He married first Anne Alexander, widow of John Siuith, 
of Purton. The earliest date mentioning him in the records of Spots^d- 
vania is 1716 or thereabouts. His wife's aunt married one of the Buck- 
ners, and her first husband was one of Lawrence Smith's kinsmen. So 
their coming may have been a family affair. Anyway, Col. Henry was 
very much in evidence with his five children and his second wife, the 
widow Brown (Mildred Howell), whom he married the year before Fred- 
ericksburg was founded. She lived six years and left three children, one 
of whom, Elizabeth, is the ancestress of the Cobbs, of Georgia. Col. 
Willis married his third wife, ]\Iildred Washing-ton Gregory, two months 
after liis second wife's death, and he was her third husband. 

The trustees of Fredericksburg were John Robinson, Henry Willis, 
Augustine Smith (a relative of Henry Willis' first wife and nephew of 
]\fajor Lawrence Smith), John Taliaferro (whose ancestor, Robert Talia- 
ferro had taken up large grants of land on our river conjointly with our 
Major Lawrence Smith), Henry Beverly, John Waller and Jeremiali 
Clowder. Do we recognize some of the "Knights of the Golden Florse- 
shoe" in this company, and by the way, why didn't Col. Henry Willis go 
on that quest ? 

Well, we have gone far afield from the act of incorporation. It goes 
on to say that fifty acres belonging to John Royston and Robert Buckner 
were to be set apart and divided into lots, and that these two were to 
have a percentage off of each lot and were to be given two lots each. John 
Rovston was to take as his two lots the land he had leased to William 
Livingstone, upon which had been erected home and improvements and 



14 Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

warehouses; wliicii wvrv doubtless the ones referred to in Spottsvlvania 
records as tlie "lioyston Warehouses." 

The A. F. V. A. found out in 191(5. tlirough .Mr. Clayton Torrance, of 
liiehmond, that these lots were on Water (Sophia) street, between Com- 
merce (Prince William) and Amelia and that was really the earliest im- 
proved part of the town and so described by Col. William Byrd on his 
visit in 1732 to "Col. Henry Willis's new town of Fredtrieksburg." 

^^'illiam Livingstone died in 1729, but his wife, Susannah (called else- 
where Sukey Livingston), was there, as doctress and coffee woman. All 
the buildings were of wood except the prison, "which is strong enough to 
hold Jack Sheppard." Can't we think that the big stone building, with 
barred windows, near the bridge was this prison? It is conjectured to 
have been a tobacco warehouse, but it is much more like a jail. Sukey 
Livingston, by the way, bought herself a lot or two lots, also land in the 
county. She had no children and left her j^roperty to Phili]) Rootts. who 
had grants of land in this locality, and also was a connection by marriage 
of these same Smiths. 

The Thorntons, of P'all Hill, came from Francis Thornton, of Caro- 
line, who acquired land "near the P"ails of the Rappahannock" in 1720. 
His son, Francis, married Frances Gregory, daughter of Mildred Wash- 
ington and Roger Gregory, and they lived at Fall Hill as early as 1736. 
They were gentlefolk, with means and education, and their descendants 
have been among Fredericksburg's leading people, as well as scattered 
abroad to "make other States great." 

So in this locality were not a few families with birth, breeding, beauty 
and books (some of these are still extant), and they enjoyed life in spite 
of the rough surroundings, for they had good servants, good food and 
good company. 



HISTORIC PERIOD No. 6. 
St. Georse's Church — Parson Marye — The Washington, Etc. 

On April 10. 1732. Col. Willis contracted to build two churc-hes. one 
in Fredericksburg and one on the Mattaponi. Col. Byrd tells us that dur- 
ing his visit to Col. Willis' "Parson Kenncr edified us with his company." 
The reverend gentleman had been gotten rid of by his vestry in a very 
nnceremonions manner by giving him notice — "That he need not give him- 
self any further trouble to come and preacli in the parish." He was the 
rector of the earliest church up on Mine Run. 

The first rector of St. George's church was Patrick Henry, uncle of 
the orator, but he only remained two years, not long enough for his 
nephew and namesake to visit him and "run about these streets bare- 
footed," as was announced here once by an imported speaker. He was 
succeeded by Rev. James Marye. a Hugenot. from the settlement in Gooch- 
land. He and his .son. James Marye. Jr.. held this pastorate for forty-six 
years and were the ancestors of the Marye family of this section of Vir- 
ginia. Parson Marye was a classical scholar and kept a school, frequented 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 15 

by mail}- men, who afterwards achieved distinction. This school is said 
to have been on the square opposite the Baptist church. As both preacher 
and teacher he served well his day and generation. 

Augustine Washington had bought land in Stati'ord county in 1722, 
and when, in April, 1735, Wakefield was burned, he and his wife and 
three small children, George, Betty and Samuel, established themselves 
at Pine Grove (also called the Ferry Farm), opposite Fredericksburg. 
Recently it has been said that they went first to Hunting Lodge (Mt. 
Vernon), another of Augustine Washington's plantations, but did not re^ 
main long, as the vicinity of Fredericksburg offered more attractions. In 
the first place, Mai-y Washington's half sister, Hannah Travers, lived in 
Stafford county, and Mrs. Washington had strong family affections. Then 
there were advantages of church and school both in Falmouth and Fred- 
ericksburg. 

Some writers reiDresent the Washingtons as belonging to a church in 
Overwharton Parish, but it Sieems more likely that they crossed the river 
to St. George's. Though, as George went to school to jMaster Hobby, in 
Falmouth, they may have gone there to church too, and Augustine Wash- 
ington's name is not in the list of St. George's vestrymen. 

The plantation adjoining the Washingtons in Stafford belonged to 
the Strothers, and little Jane Strother was one of George's early sweet- 
hearts. The first ferry authorized by law between Stafford and Freder- 
icksburg was in 1748 and was between the land of Anthony Strother and 
the tobacco warehouse (the stone building by the bridge). Augustine 
Washington owned tliree lots in Fredericksburg. 33, 34 and 40. Law- 
rence, the elder half-brother, made a present of his share in them to his 
brother George. 

But to return to an earlier date. After the Washingtons settled in 
Stafford there were three more children, John Augustine, Charles and 
little Mildred, who died when she was fourteen months old. Here, just 
across the river, all of Geo. Washington's youth was spent ; here he cut 
down the cherry tree and here he threw the dollar (Spanish) across the 
river. After Master Hobby, of Falmouth, and a Mr. Williams, perhaps of 
Tap])ahannock, he went to school to Parson Marye in Fredericksburg, and 
here his first cousin, Lewis Willis, (son of Henry, W^illis and INIildred 
W^ashinglon) testifies to his "industry and assiduity." While his brother 
Samuel and his comrades were at "Bandy" or other games "he was behind 
the door ciphering." Flis romping once with one of the larger girls 
"excited no little comment among the other lads." 

Henry Willis died in 1740 and three others of the original trustees of 
Fredericksburg had either died or resigned, so in 1742 Augustine Wash- 
ington was elected trustee or feoffee of the town. Perhaps that was why 
he bought the lots. On April 20, 1743, Augnistine Washington died, after 
a brief illness, of rheumatic gout. 

But to return. In 1738 the House of Burgesses passed a law authoriz- 
ing fairs to be held in Fredericksburg twice a year "For the sale of cattle, 
provisions, goods, wares and all kinds of merchandise." Fine gatherings 
these for all the surrounding counties. 

In 1789 the trustees found it necessarv to buv land from Henrv Willis 



16 Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

aiid John Lewis and enlar<>c Hit' orii^inal hountlrics of the town. About 
this time they began to buihl better liouses. 

We don't know when Fielding Lewis moved into this seetion. He was 
of a distinguished family, the son of John Lewis, of Gloucester, and 
Frances Fielding. His first wife was Catherine Washington, said to have 
been an aunt of George Washington. However, Augustine Washington's 
only recorded sister was ^Mildred, but his brother John had a wife named 
Catherine, and as he died early and without children his widow. Catherine 
Washingion, may have married Fielding Lewis. But this is pureh' con- 
jectux-al. Wlio was Catherine Washington.'' By this marriage there was 
one son, John. Colonel Lewis' second wife was Bettie Washington, whom 
he married in 1750 and for whomhe built Kenmore, so named by the Goi^ 
dons. What was Kenmore's original name.'^ Bettie Washington had thir- 
teen children and they were all brought up right here in tliis community 
and every one of them turned out well and their descendants have been 
useful, patriotic, distinguished citizens in many localities. 

George Washington left home when he was fifteen, but he was often 
a visitor, and Charles Washington lived here many years. He built and 
owned the "Rising Sun Tavern" and was a vestryman of St. George's in 
1766. 

JNIany families had moved into Fredericksburg anil the surrounding- 
country and names prominent then are some of them still prominent — 
John Taliaferro, Robert Carter, Larkin Chew. William Bernard. Charles 
Dick, (evidently a universal friend, for he was god-father, guardian, exe- 
cutor, witness and vestryman oftener than nearly anyone in the records). 
Then there was Jolm Allen, a rich old bachelor, and Roger Dixon, another 
friendly man, after whom Dixon street was named; Doctor Mortimer, 
beloved physician, who built General Wheeler's house in 1764; Doctor 
Hugh ^Mercer, who fought at Culloden and lived next to Charles Dick, 
whose house on Princess Anne street, now occujiied by ^Mr. ]\Listers, is the 
oldest home in Fredericksburg — built in 1715. 

Sometime between 17."iO and 1710 John Gortlon moved liere. Fie was 
not one of the merchant princes of Falmouth, but he had a capable and 
intelligent wife, and dying left her executrix of his entire estate and guar- 
dian of his two little girls. Catherine and Isabella. Tlie yoimg Scotch- 
man, Hugh Mercer, fell in lo\t' with Isabella and married her and George 
Weedon married Catherine. 

There were Crutchfields. Frenches, Pattons, Minors, Flollidays (.lohn 
Holliday came to this country in 1702. and he. his son anil grandson held 
the position of tobacco inspector for Fredericksburg for mcn-e than fifty 
years) ; Stannards, Spottswoods. all living in the counly by this time, and 
other names equally well known. 

Philip I'ithian, tutor at Xomini Hall, mentions the races at Fredericks- 
burg in iiis diary. This was the gathering place for all the youth, beauty 
and fashion of tlie surrounding country. Though the country people did 
Iiold themselves vastly above those who lived in town, and did so up to 
the period of the War Between the States. 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 17 

HISTORICAL PERIOD No. 7. 
Revolutionary Times. 

The Revolution really began long before the fighting. The historian, 
Bancroft, says, "That in 1764, when the liberties of the American people 
were menaced by the Stamp Act, Virginia was among the first of the col- 
onies to memorialize the King in opposition." The celebrated "Resolu- 
tions of the Association of Westmoreland" were prepared by Richard 
Henry Lee and were passed at Leedstown, February 27, 1766, and were 
signed by one hundred and sixteen gentlemen, assembled from all parts 
of the adjacent counties. There are seven well known names from Fi-ed- 
ericksburg and vicinity: Lewis Willis, Francis Thornton, Jr., Samuel and 
Charles Washington. Samuel Selden, Charles Mortimer, Robert Carter, of 
Falmoutli, and probably others. 

The Rising Sun Tavern, where Geo. W^eedon had the postoffice of the 
town and was "mine host," was looked upon as a hot-bed of sedition, for 
there the patriots gathered almost nightly. Here George Washington 
often joined them, and here it was that he recorded in his diary that he 
had played cards and lost "as usual," and was afraid that those Fred- 
ericksburg fellows were "too smart for him." 

Judge Brooke in his narrrative tells of two visits of George Washington 
about this time. He came to Smithfield witli General Spottswood, Gov- 
ernor Spottswood's grandson, looking very handsome in the full vmiform 
of an English Colonel. He was out all day with the young men and ser- 
vants testing the dogs and racing the horses. He was here again in 1774 
to review the "Independent Companies." There is a record as early as 
1753 of an Independent Company of Foot, composed of the gentlemen of 
the town. After the review they gave him a collation in the Market 
House, where he had all the boys of a large grammar school, taught by a 
Mr. Lannegan (an Irish college graduate), brought to him and gave them 
each a drink of punch, and patted them on their heads and asked them if 
they could fight for their countr3\ 

Lewis Willis had succeeded his father at "Willis Hill." On account 
of his father's services to the church he was granted a free pew in St. 
George's. He was Mildred Washington's only son, was a strong, powerful 
man. His son, Byrd Willis testifies he was considei-ed "The best man 
about" and could beat any man who cared to face him. He, like his 
father, married three times, first Mary Champe, by whom he had six 
children ; he then married the widow of his brother-in-law, John Champe, 
who was Anne Carter, of Cleve, the sister to his son-in-law, Landon Car*- 
ter, who married his daughter, Mildred. The following lines explaining 
the tangle of relationship in which JNIildred was involved came out in tlie 
Virginia Gazette, signed Miss L. D., Fredericksburg — "Bright Girl! 
"]My husband's my uncle, my father's my brother — 
"I also am sister unto my own mother — 
"I am sister and aunt to a brother named John, 
"To whom wit and good nature combined both belong. 
"This paradox strange as it may be to you 
"Any day that you please I can prove to be true." 

\ 



18 Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

Her brother, John, was afterwards Lieutenant, Captain and Major in 
the Kevolutionary War. 

Franeis Thornton, Jr., had siieeeded his father at Fall Hill and had 
married Anne Tliompson, Lady Spottswood's daughter by her seeond luis- 
band, the Revei-end John Thompson. 

Riehard Brooke lived at Smithfield, San)uel Selden at Salvington and 
Mann Page at jNIannsfield. 

Out in tiie eounty, some nine or ten miles from Frederieksburg, lived 
a farmer named Jo])n Clark, and two of his sons were destined to make 
history. George Rogers Clark, general of the forces on the Ohio, who 
conquered for the colonies the English and Indians at Vincennes, and 
William Clark, who, with Merriwether Lewis, undertook the mag-nificent 
adventure of exploring the great Northwest. 

Fredericksburg and Falmouth both did a large business with Glasgow, 
Scotland, and among the settlers were many Scotchmen. William Paul, 
a merchant from Galloway, bought, in 1770, a half acre, for which he paid 
about six hundred dollars (one hundred and twenty pounds), a pi*etty 
good iDrice. It was land once belonging to Roger Uixon. Gent., and was 
on the corner of Carolina and Prussia street. He died in 1773 and his 
brother Joini Paul came over to settle up his estate. While here lie 
changed his name to Jones, because he did not want to be known to the j 

British Navy, to which he had once belonged. From Fredericksburg he ' 

went to offer his services to the American Congress and became "Father 
of the American Navy." Captain Quinn and the Reverend R. R. Howison 
both attest to the truth of Fredericksburg's early Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, and to the gatliering of six huiulred men of the town and coun- 
ties, who offered their services to defend Williamburg immediately after 
the battle of Lexington. Prominent among them were three, who were 
afterwards Generals George Wccdon, Hugh Mercer and Gustavus B. Wal- , 

lace — a sketch of the later is given below: 

From the county went General George Rogers Clark and General 
Thomas Pose}' — stn'cn generals in all from this locality. Otlier officers 
were Col. Thomas jNIinor, Col. Lewis Willis. Col. Fielding Lewis, etc.. 
Major Churchill Jones, afterwards of Chatham; Major Robert Forsythe, 
who lived on the corner of Prince Edward and Fauquier streets and was J 
father of John Forsythe. the noted Statesman from Georgia. Dr. R - i o1 w vA \^lijiJl^ 
Brooke was surgeon on John Paul Jones' ship, tlic "Bon Homme Richard." 
Fielding Lewis had several sons with various ranks, and speaking of 
this brings us to the story of "The Gunnery" to be given in our next. 

Col. Gustavus Brown Wallace was born at Ellcrslie. Stafford county, 
Virginia, November 9, 1751, and died unmarried, August 17, 1802. He 
entered the Continental Army in 1775 as captain. With the reduction of 
Charleston. S. C, in 1780 lie and liis regiment were captured, as per 
Governor Nelson's letter to Cornwall is. 

In 1802 lie went to Scotland and during his return contracted typhus 
fever on board a ship. He died a few days after reaching Fredericksburg 
and was buried in the IVfasonic graveyard there. He was a member of the 
Society of Cincinnali in 1784. He is said to have been acting brigadiei^ 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 19 

general at one time during the Revolutionary War. A red British sash, 
which he purchased in Scotland in 1775 and wore through tiie Revolution, 
is now in the possession of Dr. G. J\I. Wallace, of Stafford. It bears the 
stains of blood. He had five brothers, all officers in the Revolutionary 
Army. 

"The Gunnery." 

The Virginia Convention of July, 1775, among other far seeing acts, 
ordered the establishment of a Manufactory of Small Arms in P'redericks- 
burg, and named P'ielding Lewis, Charles Dick, Mann Page, William P'itz- 
hugh and Samuel Selden, or any three of them, commissioners. This is 
said to have been the first gunnery established in the colonies. Did the 
vicinity of Governor Spottswood's iron mines have anything to do with the 
works being put in P'redericksburg.^ It was directed that a sufficient num- 
ber of artificers be employed to manufacture such arms from time to time 
as the Committee of Safety should require. And an appropriation was 
made of twenty-five hundred pounds, a sum at that time having the pur- 
chasing power of eighteen or twenty thousand dollars. 

What was the matter with Messrs. Fitz-PIugh, Page and Selden does 
not appear in the records, but they were never again alluded to. The whole 
work devolved on Col. Lewis and Charles Dick, and nobly did they do 
their part. In the records on file in Richmond there are twenty-five let- 
ters of Charles Dick and one at least from Col. Lewis, which make very 
interesting reading, for they reveal the personality of these men, as well 
as rendering their accounts and recording the progress of their work. 
The two commissioners purchased from Richard Brooke, of Smithfield, a 
tract of land adjoining the town of I'redericksburg. with a "noble spring" 
(the Gunnery Spring, and we all know what a noble si:)ring it is), "and a 
spacious garden, which supplies necessary greens and roots." Then they 
proceeded to erect at least two buildings, with sheds and outhouses neces- 
sary. They built and established tlie factory and had it in running order 
in less than one year, "after much trouble and attention." "It was an 
extraordinarily good factory." 

For the use of the factory the commissioners also leased from INIrs. 
Lucy Rootes Dixon (widow of Roger Dixon, and daughter of Major 
Philip Rootes, of Boswell, King and Queen county), a mill house on Hazel 
Run. which was converted to the use of grinding bayonets. 

The running expenses were estimated at (2.958 pounds) two thousand 
and nine hundred and fifty-eiglit pounds annually, which included stock, 
a master workman and thirty others, besides negroes to do the drudgery 
and work the garden, rent for the mill and extras. 

All the workmen took their dinners daily at the Gunnery, hence the 
need for a "spacious garden." 

They turned out one hundred stand of arms a month, besides much 
repair work. In one of Chas. Dick's letters to Thomas Jefferson. Gov- 
ernor of Virginia, he says: "I have just time to acquaint you that the 
gentlemen of this town, and even the ladies, have very spiritedly attended 
at the Gunnery and assisted to make up already about twenty thousand 
cartridges with bullets, with which the Spotsylvania militia and tlie 



20 Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

militia from Caroline have been supplied." Fredericksburg lias never 
failed in patriotism, and Fredericksburg women have certainly done their 
part in three wars, as all can testify. 

But the most remarkable part is tliat Col. Lewis and JNIr. Dick man- 
aged to run this vital institution under the abnormal condition of a de- 
ranged treasury. Patriots to the core, these noble Fredericksburg men 
"tlirew themselves in the breach," underpaid and mostly vnipaid, for their 
services. They staked their personal fortimes to run the factory. In a 
letter from Col. Lewis, dated February 9, 1781, he says that except for 
his advances "the factory must have been discontinued, and that he had 
put in seven thousand pounds ; all that I had at that time on hand." Not 
many months later Col. Lewis died (he is buried under the chancel of St. 
George's church), and after that the responsibility of the enterprise fell 
on Charles Dick. His letters show the tremendous effort he w-as putting 
forth. He sacrificed his means as well as his time and strength and was 
faithful to the minutest detail. 

When the war was over the factory was turned over to the town of 
Fredericksburg to found an academy for the instruction of the youth of 
the place. Thus were "The swords turned into plowshares." Later the 
academy was sold and the money turned over to the Episcopal Charity 
School. When we came here first, in 1881, no one could tell us the reason 
for the name Gunnery Spring. The tradition is "He who drinks of the 
water, no matter where he may wander, will certainly come back to Fred- 
ericksburg." 

Lossing, in his "Mary and Martha Washington." gives a short account 
of this manufactory of small arms, which until recently seems to have been 
sunk in oblivion. 

Largely, I belie^•e. through Mr. Clayton Torrance (from whom I have 
quoted freely), who found out these facts from these old letters, the Sons 
of the American Revolution, in 1916, placed a tablet above the spring 
giving its history. 

Masons. 

In a transcription of this kind some occurrences will get left out of 
their proper order, and we wish specially to go back to 1752, when 
Masonry was first established in Fredericksburg, Lodge No. 4', A. F. & 
A. M. The number shows its early origin among the ^lasons of the col- 
onies and its establishment is a fine indication of the character of the 
founders of our city, for Masonry stands for integrity, ability and educa- 
tion. 

Parson Marye was a IMason belonging to this lodge and tlure were many 
distinguished men of this period whose names are on its records. George 
Washington, on one of his visits to his mother, after he liad been sent by 
Governor Dinwiddie as a special envov to the French on the Ohio, to 
protest against their overstepping the boundaries and building forts on 
Knglish territory, was made a Mason, wlien only twenty-one years old. in 
this lodge November 4, 1752. and they still have in tlieir ])ossession. as a 
precious relic, tlie Bible used in this ceremony. 

While we are talking of the ]iatriots of Fredericksburg we must not 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 21 

forget there were others who, from conscientious motives, or dread of 
change, or fear of consequences, were still loyal to King George. They 
had their gatherings, too, and, as it is the prosperous people who are 
generally satisfied with existing conditions, their meetings were attended 
by some of the most substantial citizens. Again there were some who 
were too prudent to connect themselves with either side — "Lookers on in 
Venice." Perhaps they had the worst of it after all. 

Returning to the thread of our story, while there is little definite to 
record in the three years of warfare, we know that our city throughout 
this period was a center of distinction. James Mercer, a Fredericksburg 
lawyer, chief justice of general courts held in Richmond, writes: "There 
is not one spot in the State so generally useful in our military operations." 

That General Washington kept in touch with his mother and sister is 
evidenced bj'^ the story of the courier sent with the dispatch announcing 
the fact that he had crossed the Delaware. INIrs. Washington was in her 
garden, which at that time occupied the whole square, and was the joy 
and pride of her heart, when the courier rode up, splashed with mud and 
followed by a crowd anxious for the news from the front. She finished 
her task of digging up some plants or shrubs for a waiting neighbor, wiped 
her hands, broke the seal of the dispatch and announced to the impatient 
group outside "George had crossed the Delaware." 

The spring of 1781 witnessed the shifting of forces among the British. 
The movements of the traitor. Arnold, in lower Virginia called for an 
increase of militia. Cornwallis threatened Richmond and Tarleton's raids 
caused anxiety, consternation and borrow, for lie was a leader full of dash 
and spirit and something of a wag besides. 

Tlie young Marquis de Lafayette, however, was equal to the occasion. 
With a handful of ragged militia, by a well conceived series of maneuvers, 
he led Cornwallis away from Richmond across the North Anna river, and 
the rumor was abroad that Fredericksburg was threatened, "that Corn- 
wallis was coming." There w'as much at stake. Here was the manufac- 
tory of small arms, here in Falmouth were Hunters' iron works (there 
are still signs of the old forge), which made camp kettles for the soldiers, 
and besides a large supply of military stores. 

General Weedon held command here. Long before this he had demon- 
strated liis loyalty and efficiency. Lafayette sent liim an order. "Collect 
the militia." In his letters lie tells the story of these exciting days. He 
summoned King George and Stafford men to assemble on Hunter's 
Heights, the hills above Falmouth. He tells of the fleeing inhabitants and 
of the securing of the military stores. Everything of importance that 
could be was carted away. The town was almost deserted and the soldiers 
on the Stafford hills awaited they knew not what. In a letter to Col. 
Edwin Conway, commanding the Lancaster militia, which had also been 
summoned. General Weedon writes, June 10, 1781: "Inclosed I send you 
extract of Marquis' orders w^hich first induced me to call you. The enemy 
were advancing rapidly and this quarter seemed to be their object." 
"Their operations, pointing to another, leaves room to suppose we shall 
not be visited this time." 



22 Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

Cornwallis surrendered a few months later, October 19, 1781, at York- 
town and the articles of surrender were drawn up at "Temple Farm," 
where lived Augustin Moore, a grandson of our Governor Spottswood, and 
his wife Lucv. a great-granddaughter of our Major Lawrence Smith. 



HISTORIC PERIOD No. 8.— 1781-1791. 
Peace Ball — Fredericksburg's Charter, Etc. 

Tlie story of the Peace Ball is so familiar that it seems hardly worth 
while to dwell upon it. The date has been under discussion, some authori- 
ties making it as late as 1783. We know that Marquis Lafayette went 
back to P'rance after the 23d of November, 1781, and did not return until 
1784. Yet he, with Count Rochambeau and Count D'Estaing and 
Admiral De Grasse, were certainly at a ball and at Dr. Mortimer's "big 
dining" the next day. We are inclined to think that Mrs. Terhune has it 
straight. In her "Story of Mary Washington" she says: "On the after- 
noon of November 12, 1781, Washington arrived in Fredericksburg, with 
his staff of French and American officers, en route from Yorktown to 
Philadelphia." 

George Washington Parke Curtis, who at least got his information at 
first hand, says: "After an absence of nearly seven years it was at length, 
on the return of the combined armies, permitted to the mother to see and 
embrace her ilhistrious son." Washington writes on his return to Mt. 
Vernon. 1783, that lie had been absent nine years, so seven years would 
make the visit to tlie motlier in 1781. 

But after much painstaking research the occasion on November 12, 
1781, seems to have been in the nature of a reception, and may have taken 
place at tlie Rising Sun Tavern, and General Lafayette may have slept 
there — all of which has been so often told. The Peace Ball seems to have 
been in December, 1783, in the assembly-room at tlie Market House, now 
the City Hall, and was attended by all the fashion, youtli and beauty of all 
the counties acljoining. To the reception, November, 1781, Mrs. Washington 
came leaning on tlie arm of her son, but she went home before ten o'clock. 
The foreign officers were anxious to meet the mother of their chief and 
were duly impressed with her dignity and stately bearing. They said, "If 
such were the mothers of America it was no wonder that the sons Avere so 
illustrious." 

Fredericksburg was incorporated in 1727, but it had no charter until 
1781 — granted then by the Assembly in Richmond. Doctor Chas. ^lor- 
timer was the first mayor, in 1782. John Minor. Jr., afterwards General 
John INIinor, was the first Commonwealth's Attorney. He is buried in the 
center of the Masonic graveyard. His wife was Lucy Carter, of CIcve. 
a granddaughter of Col. Henry Willis. It is said he built Hazel Hill. 
He was the uncle of Matthew F. Maury and a man of mark, and was the 
first to offer to any legislati\e body of this country a bill for the emancipa^ 
tion of the slaves. This he did in 1782 in the General Assembly in Rich- 
mond. The bill called for the gradual emanicipation, with compensation 
for the owners. His family, after his death, occupied the house now 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 23 

owned by Mrs. Alice Cogliill, and here Matthew Maury was often their 
guest. 

Fredericksburg had many distinguislied visitors at this period. It was 
on the main traveled road between North and South, and all the North 
and South Carolina and Georgia delegates passed through here on their 
way to Congress in Philadelphia, unless they went by sea. 

General Nathaniel Green came here in 1780 on liis way to take com- 
mand of the army in the South. He was here again in 1783, when he 
received an ovation from the citizens and an elegant letter from Dr. Mor- 
timer, to which General Green replied in the same elegant diction. 

We have Judge Brooke as an authority for saying that General 
Horatio Gates, hero of Saratoga, lived here for one year after the war was 
over. Judge Brooke says: "1 was very intimate with him, a man of fine 
manners, a fine camp officer, but not qualified to command an army." 

Judge Brooke gives an account of a visit from General Washington 
and says he was often hei-e to see his mother and widowed sister. He 
attended a ball given on the 22d of February, opened it by dancing a 
minuet with some lady, then danced cotillions and country dances, was 
very gallant and always attached himself, by his attentions, to the most 
beautiful and attractive ladies at the ball. The narrative goes on to tell 
of a dinner given the next day, when Jack Stuart, "a great vocalist," sang 
a song at which George Washington laughed immoderately and encored. 

"The next day, when I went to his sister's to introduce strangers to 
him, I found him the most dignified man of the age." 

The first FrederiA;sburg newspaper, the Virginia Herald and Fal- 
Moutli Advertiser, was started by Timothy Green in 1786 and continued 
under the name llrginia Herald until 1875 — eighty-nine years. 

It was during this period that President Monroe settled in Fredericks- 
burg. His worth was evidently appreciated, for he was a member of the 
council and held other offices. He bought a house on Princess Anne street 
(though he never lived there), so he might be elected to the Virginia 
Assembly, and from here he started on his political career. His law office 
on Charles street is well known. He was licensed to practice law at the 
same time with Robert Brooke and Bushrod Washington. Robert Brooke 
became the Governor of the State and Bushrod Washington was a chief 
justice. James Monroe was first district attorney of this section. 

General Lafayette was here in 1781 with Fielding Lewis, Jr., espec- 
ially to see Mrs. Washington. She was in her garden with her dress 
tucked up, she received him cordially, pulled her dress down, took him 
in the house and gave him a mint julip and spiced gingerbread. The A. 
P. V. A. have the recipe for this gingerbread, copied from an old cookbook. 

April 14, 1789, George Washington paid his last visit to his mother 
before he started to New York to be inaugurated as President. She was 
in the advanced stages of cancer and knew she would never see him again. 
She died in August of that same year and the whole community and coun- 
tryside gathered to do her honor. 

Dr. Charles Mortimer and Dr. Elisha Hall were her physicians. Dr. 
Mortimer is buried in the middle of Hurkamp Park. 



22 Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

Cornwallis surrendered a few inontlis later. Oetober 19, 1781. at York- 
town and the articles of surrender were drawn up at "Temple Farm." 
where lived Augustin Moore, a grandson of our Governor Spottswood, and 
his wife Lucy, a great-granddaughter of our Major Lawrence Smith. 



HISTORIC PERIOD No. 8.-1781-171)1. 
Peace Ball — Fredericksburg's Charter, Etc. 

The story of the Peace Ball is so familiar that it seems hardly worth 
while to dwell ujDon it. Tlie date has been under discussion, some authori- 
ties making it as late as 1783. We know that Marquis Lafayette went 
back to France after tlie 23d of November. 1781, and did not return until 
1784. Yet he, with Count Rochambeau and Count D'Kstaing and 
Admiral De Grasse, were certainly at a ball and at Dr. Mortimer's "big 
dining" the next day. We arc inclined to think that Mrs. Terhune has it 
straight. In her "Story of Mary Washington" she says: "On the after- 
noon of November 12, 1781, Washington arrived in Fredericksburg, with 
his staff of French and American officers, en route from Yorktown to 
Philadelphia." 

George Washing-ton Parke Curtis, wlio at least got his information at 
first hand, says: "After an absence of nearly seven years it was at length, 
on the return of the combined armies, permitted to the mother to see and 
embrace her illusti'ious son." Washington writes on his return to Mt. 
Vernon, 1783, that he had been absent niiu' years, so seven years would 
make the visit to the mother in 1781. 

But after much painstaking research the occasion on November 12. 
1781, seems to have been in the nature of a reception, and may have taken 
place at the Rising Sun Tavern, and General Lafayette may have slept 
there— all of which has been so often told. The Peace Ball seems to have 
been in December, 1783, in the assembly-rocmi at the ^larket House, now 
the City Hall, and was attended by all the fashion, youth and beauty of all 
the counties adjoining. To the reception, November. 1 78 1 . Mrs. \\'ashington 
came leaning on the arm of her son, but she went home before ten o'clock. 
The foreigii officers were anxious to meet the mother of their chief and 
were duly impressed with her digTiity and stateh^ bearing. They said. "If 
such were the mothers of America it was no wonder that the sons were so 
illustrious." 

Fredericksburg was incorporated in 1727. but it had no charter until 
1781 — granted then by the Assembly in Richmond. Doctor Chas. Mor- 
timer was the first mayor, in 1782. Jolm Minor, Jr., afterwards General 
John Minor, was the first Commonwealth's Attorney. He is buried in the 
center of tlie Masonic graveyard. His wife was Lucy Carter, of Cleve. 
a granddaughter of Col. Henry Willis. It is said lie built Hazel Hill. 
He was the uncle of Matthew F. ]\Iaurv and a man of mark, and was the 
first to offer to any legislative body of this country a bill for the emancipa^ 
tion of the slaves. This he did in 1782 in the General Assembly in Rich- 
mond. The bill called for the gradual emanicipation, with compensation 
for the owners. His family, after his death. oceu))ied the house now 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 23 

owned by Mrs. Alice Coghill, and here Matthew Maury was often their 
guest. 

Fredericksburg had many distinguislied visitors at this period. It was 
on the main traveled road between North and South, and all the North 
and South Carolina and Georgia delegates passed through here on their 
way to Congress in Philadelphia, unless they went by sea. 

General Nathaniel Green came liere in 1780 on his way to take com- 
mand of the army in the South. He was here again in 1783, when he 
received an ovation from the citizens and an elegant letter from Dr. Mor- 
timer, to which General Green replied in the same elegant diction. 

We have Judge Brooke as an authority for saying that General 
Horatio Gates, hero of Saratoga, lived here for one year after the war was 
over. Judge Brooke says: "1 was very intimate with him, a man of fine 
manners, a fine camp officer, but not qualified to command an army." 

Judge Brooke gives an account of a visit from General Washington 
and says he was often here to see his mother and widowed sister. He 
attended a ball given on the 22d of February, opened it by dancing a 
minuet with some lady, then danced cotillions and country dances, was 
very gallant and always attached himself, by his attentions, to the most 
beautiful and attractive ladies at the ball. The narrative goes on to tell 
of a dinner given the next day, when Jack Stuart, "a great vocalist," sang 
a song at which George Washington laughed immoderately and encored. 

"The next day, when I went to his sister's to introduce strangers to 
him, I found him the most dignified man of the age." 

The first Fredericksburg newspaper, the Jlrginia Herald and Fal- 
Mouth Advertis^er, was started by Timothy Green in 1786 and continued 
under the name rirghiia Herald until 1875 — eighty-nine years. 

It was during this period that President Monroe settled in Fredericks- 
burg. His worth was evidently appreciated, for he was a member of the 
council and held other offices. He bought a house on Princess Anne street 
(though he never lived there), so he might be elected to the Virginia 
Assembly, and from here he started on his political career. His law office 
on Charles street is well known. He was licensed to practice law at the 
same time with Robert Brooke and Bushrod Washington. Robert Brooke 
became the Governor of the State and Bushrod Washington was a chief 
justice. James Monroe was first district attorney of this section. 

General Lafayette was here in 1781 Mith Fielding Lewis, Jr., espec- 
ially to see Mrs. Washington. She was in her garden with her dress 
tucked up, she received him cordially, pulled her dress down, took him 
in the house and gave him a mint julip and spiced gingerbread. The A. 
P. V. A. have the recipe for this gingerbread, copied from an old cookbook. 

April 14, 1789, George Washington paid his last visit to his mother 
before he started to New York to be inaugurated as President. She was 
in the advanced stages of cancer and knew she would never see him again. 
She died in August of that same year and the whole community and coun- 
tryside gathered to do her honor. 

Dr. Charles Mortimer and Dr. Elisha Hall were her physicians. Dr. 
Mortimer is buried in the middle of Hurkamp Park. 



26 Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

mersion silenced lier. She returned througli the same streets, in the same 
gig, as quiet as a lamb." 

JLewis Littlepage died here July 19, 1802. and is buried in the Masonic 
Cemetery. He was only forty years old, but his life had been one of high 
adventure in various courts of Europe. He went to Madrid in 1779-80 
under the patronage of John Jay, minister to Spain. In Dr. Philip 
Slaughter's "St. Mark's Parisli," there is a letter from him, from Altona, 
Denmark, dated Januarj' 9, 1801, to his cousin, Lewis Holliday, of 
Spottsylvania, giving a full account of his career. His highest office was 
Lord High Chancellor of the King of Poland, Stanislaus Augustus, of 
whom he speaks as "My friend, my master, my more than father." He 
only lived in Fredericksburg for a little more than a year. His numerous 
orders and insignia are in the possession of the Holliday family. Matthew 
F. Maury had more, but Fredericksburg can lay claim to both of these 
men so crowned with European honors. 



HISTORIC PERIOD Xo. 10.— 1801-1820. 

There is a very good story told of this period which can be enjoyed in 
these later days of Chappawamsic Swamp fame, and is wortli telling. 
Thomas Moore, on his visit to America in 1805. when he wrote his poem 
about the Dismal Swamp, passed through Fredericksburg on his way to 
visit his cousin, William Bowdcn, who lived in Petersburg. After braving 
the dangers of the road from Quantico and struggling with the unusual 
Indian names, he gave vent to his feelings in the following couplet: 

"Chappawamsic Rappahannock ! 

"Make the knees of bravest man knock." 

Thus far we have failed to record Fredericksburg in the struggle for 
religious liberty. Virginia had always been loyal to the Crown and to the 
Episcopal church, which was supported by the State. Each rector 
received IG.OOO pounds of tobacco every year, levied by the sheriff from 
the parishioners. Ministers' tobacco always sold cheap, because of the 
different grades in the same lot. According to the price of tobacco, this 
yielded from two to four hundred dollars; besides they had tlic Glebe land 
from which they were supposed to raise corn and Iiay and the year's sup- 
ply of vegetables and fruit. 

Virginia has always been liberal and reasonable, and for a hundred 
vears Presbyterians, under Francis Makenie and Samuel Davies. were 
tolerated and gained a foothold. ISIethodists came into Georgia with John 
Wesley, and from there spread over the Colonies. 

It is pretty certain that the wonderful George Whitfield preached here 
on his way to Philadelphia. Hon. Seymour White alludes to this in an 
early issue of The Free Lance. 

leather Kobler, of sainted memory, organized the Methodist church 
here in 1785. though, like the early Christians, for many years they met 
from house to house. 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 27 

In 1768 Lewis Craig (who afterwards went to Kentucky with the 
Traveling church), John Waller and James Chiles, Baptist preachers, 
were seized by the sheriff o£ the county, tried by three magistrates in the 
yard of St. George's church and confined in jail for "preaching the gospel 
contrary to law." They were kept in confinement for several weeks and 
preached from the jail windows to the crowd gathered below. This jail 
was on the corner of George and Princess Anne, facing Princess Arme, 
and was the handsomest jail in Virginia. Patrick Henry, apostle of 
religious liberty, pleaded their cause and they were finally released. "The 
blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." and the Baptist church, 
organized here by the Rev. Andrew Broaddus in ISOi, is the largest body 
of Christian in this community. . 

But this was not the only persecution the Baptists had to endure in 
Fredericksburg. In 1816, when Garret Minor was mayor, two Baptist 
preachers came here and preached with great power to crowds down on 
the river bank. The servants got passes and attended in large numbers, 
but, woi-n out by excitement, were so lax in their dailv duties that the ser- 
vices were pronounced a nuisance. The preachers were arrested, and 
some say publicly whipped. Any rate they were put in jail and then 
released and sent out of town, and as they passed across the Chatham toll 
bridge and over the Stafford hills they shook the dust off of tlveir feet and 
said: "Let not this town grow any more for one hundred years." And it is 
coincidental that the commission form of government, which has done so 
much to improve and develop our city, went into effect just about one hun- 
dred years after the "curse" was pronounced. 

Mr. Quinn says that the Statute of Religious Liberty was written in a 
room of the "Indian Queen," which stood where Cassiday's drug store is 
now, in 1785. Until 1801 only an Episcopal minister was allowed to per- 
form marriage ceremonies. If you didn't want him you must go to a jus- 
tice of the peace. 

The Presbyterian preacher, Rev. Samuel B. Wilson, came here in 1805 
and the church was organized in 1807. Miss Anne Carter has written a 
delightful little pamphlet giving an account of Presbyterian beginnings. 
What is believed to have been the first Sunday School in Virginia was 
organized here in 1816 under Dr. S. B. Wilson, of the Presbyterian church, 
and the first superintendent was Mrs. Anne James. 

Rev. Dr. Edward McGuire came to St. George's in 1812 and was rec- 
tor for forty-six years. His wife was a daughter of Robert Lewis and a 
granddaughter of Bettie Washington. 

It was at this time, during the War of 1812, that the marauder. Admiral 
Cockburn, made a raid up the mouth of the Rappahannock and the country 
all up and down the river was stricken with terror. General William 
Madison, brother of the President, commanded a small force in this sec- 
tion. And there is an old record at the courthouse telling how he appro- 
priated the military stores that were here to equip the men. Fortunately 
Admiral Cockburn found fairer fields to despoil and the danger was 
averted. Col. Stapleton Crutchfield, of the country, was a brave defender 
of our coasts (his people are still here), and we have with us now the 



28 Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

descendants of General Tobias E. Stansbiirv and Commodore Josiah X. 
Barney, distinguished officers in the War of 1812. Peace was declared 
December 21.^ 181 1^ and some time in January, 1816, there was a big- 
Peace Ball in Falmouth. 

There was a fearful fii-e in 1808. It started at the Stanards, who 
lived where the Shepherd home now stands, in the kitchen wliere they 
were baking cake for ^Ir. Larkin Stanard's funeral. (Big refreshments 
were served at funerals in those days. They tied the stems of the wine 
glasses with black ci*epe and the cake was wraj^pd in white paper, sealed 
with black sealing wax.) It burned everything on the hill except the stone 
part of the Masters house. It burned both sides of Main street down to 
Amelia and then down Water street to old Shiloh church. The Royston 
warehouses, which had stood for one hundred years, were destroyed by 
this fire. Then the sparks flew across the river and set fire to the out- 
houses and hay stacks at the Ferry Farm. 

The first Ladies' Missionary Society in Virginia, and the second in the 
South, was here in Fredericksburg in the Baptist church in October, 1811. 
Miss Basiline Prince, great-granddaughter of Thomas Reade Roots, found 
the constitution and by-laws among some old letters. Dr. J. S. Dill, pas- 
tor of tlie Baptist church, secured them and they are now in the Baptist 
Historical Society of Richmond. Adoniram Judson, the great Baptist 
Missionary, had preached in Fredericksburg just before this time. 

HISTORIC PERIOD No. 11.— 1820-1810. 

In 1820 ]\Iajor Robert Lewis, son of Bettic Washington Lewis, was 
elected Mayor of Fredericksburg. So acceptably did he fill the jiosition, 
and so highly esteemed was his good wife, that when he ran for re-election 
the ladies of the town were told that if he was defeated the beloved pair 
would have to move elsewhere. They were deeply stirred, and on the fate- 
ful day they held a fast and all-day prayer meeting at the home of Mrs. 
Leonard Patterson, on Gunnery Green. ]\Irs. Minor was there and Mrs. 
Mercer, iVIrs. Stone. Mrs. Welford, the INIisses Lomax, etc. When, in the 
late afternoon. ]\Iajor Lewis' victory was announced the good ladies arose 
from their knees and went into a bountiful supper of broiled shad, cold 
ham, hot rolls, batter cakes, pound cake and peach preserves. Fredericks- 
burg always did know what was good in meals and mayors. 

On November 27, 1824, General Lafayette came again to Fredericks- 
burg with his son, George Washington. He was met at the "Wilderness 
Tavern" by a guard of honor. IVfajor Thomas Minor, of the county, was 
marshal of the parade. He had fought with Lafayette during the Revolu- 
tion and knew him intimately. The people for miles around came to greet 
him and there was a wonderful ])arade. Forty little girls, dressed in 
white, with red sashes and blue ribbons, with flags in their hands, sang 
the following welcome: 

"Our Father has dared the wild strife of the sea 
"And come to the home and hearts of the free ; 
"The shouts of a nation attend on his march, 
"And the fair hands of beauty his patliway oe'r arch." 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 29 

These words were given us by Miss Mary Green Brown in 1900. She 
was one of tlie little girls. He was welcomed by Major Ilobert Lewis and 
was entertained by JNlr. James B. Ross in a large^ handsome house which 
stood on the corner of the square, now occupied b}' the public scliool. 
There was a large reception given in his honor in the Market House, 
where wine and brandy Howed freely. 

I take from an old manuscript the description of the reception given 
that night in the Ross drawing-room. "It was the most elegant room 1 
ever saw, with its marble mantels, gilded cornices and sconces on the wall, 
with tall glass shades to keep the wax candles from flickering. Col. 
Stapleton Crutchfield, of the War of 1812, and Major Hugh Patton intro- 
duced the visitors. The next day was Sunday. General Lafayette and 
his son attended St. George's church and visited the Masonic Lodge, of 
which he was an honorary member. When he left town Major Lewis and 
his daughter accompanied him in a barouche to Aquia landing, where a 
steamer was waiting to take him to Washington." The expense account 
for the entertainment of General Lafayette is at the Court House and 
is most interesting. Major Minor was an old man, and when the festivi- 
ties were over he returned to his home and died a few days after. He was 
the grandfather of Ben Blake Minor, who succeeded Mr. White as owner 
and editor of the Southern Literary Messenger. 

Brompton was built on a part of "Willis Hill" by the Maryes in 1818. 
Chatham was owned by Mr. Churchill Jones and afterwards by his brother, 
W^illiam Jones. The Ficklen Mills were established by Mr. Joseph B. 
Ficklen as far back as 1790, and all the intricate complication of interests 
involved in the P^icklen and Thornton estates and the water power and the 
Falmouth toll bridge date back to this period. 

Col. Byrd Willis, grandson of Col. Henry Willis, lived at Willis Hill. 
A most interesting character. He married a daughter of George Lewis, 
of Marmion. His daughter Catherine had married Atchison Gray, of 
Traveler's Rest, at the age of thirteen, and at the age of sixteen returned 
to her father's house a widow. Col. Willis says of himslf that "he could 
tell a good story or sing a good song," but was a bad manager, and his 
affairs became so involved that, in 1821, he sold his property, paid his 
debts in full and moved to Pensacola, Florida, where he had received a 
government appointment. There were no railroads, so he, with his family 
and servants, traveled through the country, visiting various relatives on 
the journey. Athens, Georgia, still remembers the very large, very jolly 
Col. Willis, who visited his cousin, John Addison Cobb, nearly one hun- 
dred years ago. 

In Florida his charming daughter, INIrs. Gray, met Prince Achille 
Murat at a picnic, and he really did drink wine out of her slipper. He 
was the son of Caroline Bonaparte and Prince Joachim INIurat. King of 
Naples. After his father's tragic end he came to Florida and bought a 
large estate near Tallaliassee, which he called Lipona, after his mother, 
Caroline, of Lipona. Catherine Gray married the cx-prince in Washington 
in the summer of 1826, and President John Quincy Adams was the first 
to salute the bride. The INIurats visited Europe and were received every- 



30 Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

where uitli great distinction. In England, in an art gallery^ standing 
under the portrait of Napoleon and Washington, hung side b}^ side, John 
Randolph, of Roanoke, who was their escort, said: "Before us we have 
the pictures of Banaparte and Washington^ — one the founder of a great 
empire and the other of a great republic, and behold we have in the Prin- 
cess Murat the neice of botii. A distinction she alone can claim." Prince 
^lurat died in 1847 and she survived him twenty years. They are both 
buried in Tallahassee, Florida. Col. Byrd Willis returned to Fredericks- 
burg in 1836, and lived down on jVfain street between Hanover and George, 
which at that time was a great social center. He died in 1846, is buried 
in the old Willis graveyard adjoining the National Cemetei-y. 

Sometimes about 1828 James Gordon Bennett lived here. He was a 
Scotchman, who landed in Charleston, S. C, in 1819. Went from there to 
Fa\'etteville, N. C, then came to Fredericksburg for a year or two and 
went from here to Warrenton. In each place he tried to run a paper and 
failed. Finally he went to New York in 1835, started the Neic York 
Herald and his success is a part of history. His newspaper office was on 
Main sti-eet about where the Virginia cafe now stands. 

Matthew F. Maury came here first in 1825 to visit the family of his 
uncle, Gen. John Minor, on his way to fill his appointment to the United 
States Navy. He fell in love with his cousin. Anne Herndon, daughter of 
Dabney Herndon, a banker, who built ami owned the bank, now the First 
National Bank, and he and his attractive family lived there. He died and 
little Anne went to live with her aunt in the country and there the obscure 
midshipman married her. In 1836 an accident incapacitated him from 
active service and for six years he lived in the house on Charlotte street, 
marked by the U. D. C. Here he wrote "Letters From a Lucky Bag" and 
from here he went to accept the position in Washington, Avhere he became 
known as one of the greatest scientists the world has produced. 

The story of Andrew Jackson's visit in May, 1833, and the laying of 
the corner-stone of the first ]\Iary Washington Monument is too long and 
too familiar to insert here. Andrew Jackson was here and the Masons 
and the music and the military were much in evidence. Dr. John Wallace 
entertained the Presidential party in the house on Main street, known as 
the Wallace home, now remodeled and used as the wholesale dry goods 
house of Baker & Wallace. He gave a large reception that night, where 
refreshments, both liquid and substantial, were served in great abundance. 
The party came fi-om Washington by steamer to Aquia Creek and then 
across the countr}-. The railroad was not finished until 1836. 

A private company, called The Aqueduct Company, brought the Pop- 
lar Spring water into the city in 1832. Fredericksburg was noted for its 
beautiful women, and it was said that they owed their lovely complexions 
to the pure water. 

Judge Lomax lived where Judge Embrey lives now. One of his sisters 
was a poetress and published a volume in 1825. He had a flourishing law 
school, which he taught in the basement of his home. Mrs. A. A. Little 
taught a female academy at Federal Hill, afterwards in the Ross house 
and then where Mr. ^NLnsters now lives. Dr. S. B. Wilson had taught a 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 31 

school in his home at the Alary Washington House, and there were several 
boys' schools besides. There was always a high regard for education in 
this community. 



HISTORIC PERIOD No. 12.-1810-1861. 

Many distinguished people have visited this place, beginning with 
Capt. John Smith and Col. 13yrd, Patrick Henry, James Madison, John C. 
Calhoun, John Randolph, of Roanoke, Thomas Moore — their name is 
legion. Charles Dickens was here in lSi2. Mr. Geo. Shepherd, Sr., was 
a little boy then and remembered his visit. He stopped at the Exchange 
Hotel, now the Maury, kept by Mr. Green. He did not like us; he had 
soured on the South on account of slavery. Daniel Webster came here 
during some great political excitement and visited the Bartons. He made 
a charming impression, especially on the children of the liouse. Henry 
Clay came here, and he was entertained in the home of Mr. John Scott. 
President Zachary Taylor was here and held a reception at the Exchange 
Hotel. 

Washington Irving was here seeking information for his "Life of 
Washington," and Judge Coalter took him to Chatliam to dinner. It was 
spring time and he sat down to jowl, turnip salad, poached eggs and corn 
pone, with dried cherry roll and hard sauce for desert. He was charmed 
and charming. 

Senator Samuel Southard, Secretary of the Navy under President 
Monroe, was a man prominent in the building of the nation. He was here 
to visit his nephew, James Harrow, editor of the Jirginia Herald. Dr. 
Beverly Welford gave, in honor of the ex-Secretarj^, what is said to 
have been the handsomest dinner ever given here. It was a full-dress 
occasion for gentlemen only. The service was perfect and a great abund- 
ance of delicious food and wine. Mr. Southard was stricken with apoplexy 
during the feast and died that night. The remains were cari'ied to Phil- 
adelphia. A guard of lionor. composed of distinguished men, came down 
from Washington and the funeral was the largest and most imjoressive 
ever known. 

Tlie material prosperity of Federicksburg was substatial. Gas was 
introduced in 1843. Mr. William A. Jackson, wlio is said to have built the 
Doswell house, operated a large foundry back of Cassiday's drug store, 
afterwards owned by the Bowerings. He was a grandson of Major 
Thomas Minor and what we would call a promoter. He worked two gold 
mines up tlie country, pushed the silk worm industry and projected the 
canal, which was finished twenty-five or thirt}^ miles up the Rappahan- 
nock. I quote from an old newspaper: 

"Tlie opening of the canal was celebrated by a procession and a demon- 
stration. A long boat, called the Storrow, containing a band of music and 
a number of prominent citizens, was drawn through the streets on wheels 
by eight or ten fine horses, with much shouting, and launched in the Basin." 

The canal has long been disused, but it brought down produce and 



32 Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

lumber from the up country and carried up implements, machinery, 
groceries, etc., for the use of the country residents. 

Lieut. Smith, a kinsman of the Shepherds and Bucks, was killed during 
the Mexican War. Mr. Jackson was captain of the military company that 
conducted the burial services when the remains were brought home. Mrs. 
Mary Grant Small, who endowed our hospital, was the daughter of Capt. 
Jackson. 

Mr. John G. Hurkamp came here some time in the fifties. He built 
up a large and successful leather business. He was a liberal, broad- 
minded citizen. He had a large family and a beautiful home, wherein he 
delighted to exercise an unbounded hospitality. Up to this period all tan- 
ning was done with imported Italian sumac, but Mr. Hurkamp cxpei-i- 
mented until lie j^erfected a process by which American sumac could be 
used, and this was the beginning of the sumac industry of the Blue Ridge 
Mountains. 

Long before ISiO Fredericksburg was deeply interested in coloniza- 
tion — the return of the colored people to Africa. Liberia was the out- 
come of this movement and the capital. ^Monrovia, was named for James 
Monroe, one of the promoters. The beloved gentlewoman — Old Mrs. John 
Minor, would send for P'ather Kobler and together they would pray for 
Africa. In 18iO her son. Lancelot Byrd Minor, and wife went as mis- 
sionaries from St. George's church. Dr. Savage and his wife, Susan Met- 
calf Savage, had gone from here two years before. All fell victims to the 
treacherous African climate. 

It must have been some time in the thirties that i\Ir. Caldwell, an 
actor, came here and met, loved and married Mrs. Deane. a widow, who 
had been Miss Hall. He tried to settle down and live liere. but the call of 
the stage was too strong, and he returned to his profession, leaving his 
wife and at least one little boy liere. This boy was Shakespeare Caldwell. 
He grew up to be supremely handsome and exceptionally charming. He 
loved the celebi-ated belle. Anne Carmichael, whose wit. daring and sweet- 
ness of disposition were only surpassed by her marvelous beauty. But 
the course of their love did not run smooth. He was poor and she was 
overpersuaded to marry another and died young. ]\Ir. Caldwell's father, 
in some lucky moment had invested largely in Cincinnati gas stock, which 
became very valuable and make Shakespeare Caldwell an immensely weal- 
tliv man. He married in Kentucky and became a Roman Catholic. He 
endowed the "Little Sisters of the Poor" in Richmond, and in the endow- 
ment made some provision for Fredericksburg. His granddaughters con- 
tributed largely to the Roman Catholic University in Washington. They 
married abroad and some of their Fredericksburg relations have visited 
them. The only remaining descendant is a German count. 

.John Minor was the last here of General Minor's family. He lived 
alone for manv years in what is now INFrs. Coghill's home. He was eccen- 
tric, but kindly, a friend to children, young peo]ile and struggling genius. 
He first discovered the talent of John Elder, the painter, and displayed 
liis interest by raising among his friends the money for tlie yoimg man to 
go abroad and studv art. Elder did some fine jiortraits and attempted 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 33 

some more ambitious pieces, but he was not steady and in the end became 
a helpless invalid. He died in Fredericksburg, having never fulfilled the 
promise of his youth. Mr. Minor was an intimate friend of Mr. Fred 
Coleman, that man of wonderful acquirements, with the power to impart 
his knowledge, owner and founder of Concord Academy, the first of Vir- 
ginia's great boy's schools, of which Mr. Gordon McCabe has written so 
explicitly. Mr. Coleman spent liis last days in this city and died in the red 
brick house opposite the public school. He and Mr. Minor and ]\lr. A. A. 
Little (Sandy Little), another brilliant intellect, would sit up and talk all 
night long and discuss learned and intricate questions — classical and jjolit- 
ical. "There were g-iants in those days." In Mr. Minor's last illness his 
neighbor, Mrs. Elliott Braxton, took him to her home and nursed him, and 
there he died. It was Mr. Minor who offered to Commodore Maury and 
family the refuge of his home when they fled from Washington in 186L 

Since the days of Sukey Livingston Fredericksburg had its Cofitee 
House, and these men, and many other gentlemen of the town, went habit- 
ually to market and had an early cup of coffee in the Market House. The 
couplet over the door was as follows: 

"Walk in gentlemen, sit at your ease, 

"Pay for what you call for and call for what you please." 

Tliis coffee house custom was brought from England with the May 
Queen and the rlnmed ring games. These games are more numerous and 
in greater variety here than any where else. I hope the children still play 
them, for they are an interesting survival. The May Queen ceremonial 
evidently came with the early settlers. It has always been observed here. 
For a long time Federal Hill was the place, when ]\Ir. John Whittemore 
lived here with his attractive family of daughters. Later the May Queen 
was celebrated in the Chew garden and (until the place was sold) the 
children gathered there. 

Captain W'illiam Lewis Herndon, brother-in-law of oMatthew F. Maury, 
was born and brought up in Fredericksburg and became a raidshij^man at 
an early age. He saw and shared in all the improvements and advance- 
ments which Commodore Maury made, and in 1851 was commissioned to 
exploi-e the Amazon river and make a map of its course. He published 
the results of his investigations in two volumes of surpassing interest. He 
was the first to explore the South American interior and led the way for 
von Humbolt and Agassiz. In 1857 his ship, the Central America, left 
Cuba on September 8th for New York with 407 passengers. They en- 
countered a heavy gale and the ship sprung a leak. When it became 
known that she could not survive the storm, Capt. Herndon had all the 
women and children put into the life boats and as many men as thej^ could 
carry. Then he went below, dressed himself in his full uniform and took 
his stand on the bridge with the United States flag in his hand. Wlien the 
ship struck the outer edge of the Gulf stream she sank immediately and 
he perished with all his crew September 12, 1857. His daughter. Ellen, 
who married President Arthur, was born here in the home, which stood 
where Mr. A. W. Embrey now lives. President Arthur was a frequent 
visitor here when he was a young man. 



34 Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 

In 1858 Dr. Edward McGuii-e^ beloved reetor of St. George's church 
for forty-six years^ died and the vacancy caused by liis death was hard 
to fill. The class of 1859-60 in the Theological Seminary of Alexandria 
had some prominent students. Mr. Phillips JBi-ooks came here to preach 
a trial sermon. Mr. Brooks was from Boston, and the St. George's con- 
gregation would have none of him. They did not forecast his brilliant 
future. Instead they called Mr. A. M. llaiulolph, afterwards Bishop Ran- 
dolph, of the same class, and were more than satisfied. 

Dr. Francis A. March, afterwards president of Lafayette College, Pa., 
one of the great Anglo-Saxon students and jDhilologists of the world, came 
here in 1852 to help Dr. McPhail, the Presbyterian preacher, who fol- 
lowed Dr. S. B. Wilson, teach a girls school. He was here five years and 
married Miss Mildred Conway, sister of Mr. P. V. D. Conway. They 
were the j^arents of General Peyton Conway ]\Iarc]i, of AVorld War fame. 

Dr. A. A. Hodge, afterwards of Princeton, distinguished theological 
thinker and writer, lived here and preached in the Presbyterian church for 
some years before 1861. He left when the hostilities began, because he 
had livel in India and remembered the Sepoy rebellion. 

Fredericksburg was a favorite home for retired army and navy officers 
in their declining years. Our people were never a luxurious people, but 
they possessed a high moral standard and were a conscientious church 
going, contented community, which demanded the best in character, con- 
duct, culture, comfort, and I might say cooking. 

The next period — the War Between the States — is still fresli in tlie 
minds of many now living and we will leave to some later liistorian the 
task of writing of the events after 1861. But we wish to call attention to 
two men whose services came during and after the reconstruction period in 
Virginia's greatest hour of need — the time when she ceased to be "District 
One" and became once more a State. Our Mr. John L. Marye was first 
Lieutenant-Governor after "carpet-bag rule," and our INIajor Elliott M. 
Braxton, about the same time was elected first Democratic representative 
to Congress from this district. 

Also we would remember Mr. Scth Barton French, New York financier, 
who gave to Fredericksburg in ways both great and small, whenever the 
occasion or cause was brouglit to his attention. He gave tlie French 
Memorial Chapel to the Presbyterian churcli, with its beautiful TifTany 
window, tlie second one made. Flis daughter, Mrs. Chas. Steele, lias con- 
tinued his good works. 

Another Fredericksburg man of note of tliat period was Dr. Robert 
R. Howison, the historian. 

Tlicre are doubtless those in our midst wliose people did as mucli for 
this community as those who liave been mentioned by name. To all such 
we offer our apologies. We arc new comers; we liavc onlv lived liere fortv 
years. Honor is due to eacli one wlio lias liel]Kul to make Fredericksburg 
what she is. 

With this paper we close our condensed history with tlianks to our 
readers and special thanks to The Dalh/ Star and The Free Lanee for 
unfailing patience, kindness and courtesy. 



Historic Periods of Fredericksburg 35 

Below is a list of authorities which have been consulted in preparing 
these sketches of Fredericksburg. 

Dr. Philip Slaughter's "St. Mark's Parish"; Bishop Meade's "Old 
Churches and Families"; Miss Dubellet's "Some Prominent Virginia 
Families"; Charles B. Willis' "History of the Willis Family"; Quinn's 
"History of Fredericksburg"; Howison's "History of Virginia"; Gool- 
rick's "Life of General Mercer" ; Mrs. Terhune's "Story of ]\Iary Wash- 
ington" ; Mrs. Pryor's "Mary Washington" ; Lossing's "Mary and Martha 
Washington"; Benedict's "History of tlie Baptists"; newspaper clippings 
and magazine articles, old letters and chronicles. 



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